Question

You want to meet some friends at the local tavern after work but you feel compelled to check with your partner before going. This feels a bit like asking for permission to socialize with friends, but you don't want to argue with your partner about it. You are experiencing which relationship dialectic?

A) Inclusion vs. Seclusion
B) Autonomy vs. Connection
C) Predictability vs. Novelty
D) Separateness vs. Togetherness

Answer 1

The relationship dialectic being experienced is Autonomy vs. Connection, which balances the need for personal freedom with the desire for a close bond with a partner.

Step-by-step explanation:

The situation described involves the relationship dialectic of Autonomy vs. Connection. This dialectic represents the tension between the desire for personal independence, or autonomy, and the desire to be close to others, reflecting a need for connection. As you consider checking with your partner before socializing with friends, you're navigating the push and pull between wanting to maintain an individual sense of freedom and the interconnectedness and consideration expected in a partnership. A balance must be struck between these conflicting needs — autonomy (the ability to make independent choices) and connection (the bond and sense of unity with your partner).